Section 605.10.2. Definitions.

 As used in this chapter, unless context otherwise requires:

“Access line”   means an exchange access line that has the ability to access dial tone and reach a public safety answering point.

“Automatic location identification (ALI)”   means a system capability that enables an automatic display of information defining a geographical location of the telephone used to place the 911 call.

“Automatic number identification (ANI)”   means a capability that enables the automatic display of the number of the telephone used to place the 911 call.

“Call attendant”   means the person who initially answers a 911 call.

“Call detail recording”   means a means of establishing chronological and operational accountability for each 911 call processed, consisting minimally of the caller’s telephone number, the date and time the 911 telephone equipment established initial connection (trunk seizure), the time the call was answered, the time the call was transferred (if applicable), the time the call was disconnected, the trunk line used, and the identity of the call attendant’s position, also known as an ANI printout.

“Call relay method”   means the 911 call is answered at the PSAP, where the pertinent information is gathered, and the call attendant relays the caller’s information to the appropriate public or private safety agency for further action.

“Call transfer method”   means the call attendant determines the appropriate responding agency and transfers the 911 caller to that agency.

“Central office (CO)”   means a telephone company facility that houses the switching and trunking equipment serving telephones in a defined area.

“Coin-free access (CFA)”   means coin-free dialing or no-coin dial tone which enables a caller to dial 911 or “0” for operator without depositing money or incurring a charge.

“Communications service”   means a service capable of accessing, connecting with, or interfacing with a 911 system by dialing, initializing, or otherwise activating the system exclusively through the digits 911 by means of a local telephone device or wireless communications device.

“Communications service provider”   means a service provider, public or private, that transports information electronically via landline, wireless, internet, cable, or satellite, including but not limited to wireless communications service providers, personal communications service, telematics and voice over internet protocol.

“Competitive local exchange service provider”   means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 476.96.

“Conference transfer”   means the capability of transferring a 911 call to the action agency and allowing the call attendant to monitor or participate in the call after it has been transferred to the action agency.

“Direct dispatch method”   means 911 call answering and radio-dispatching functions, for a particular agency, are both performed at the PSAP.

“Director,”   unless otherwise noted, means the director of the homeland security and emergency management department.

“E911 communications council”   means the council as established under the provisions of Iowa Code section 34A.15.

“E911 program manager”   means that person appointed by the director of the homeland security and emergency management department, and working with the E911 communications council, to perform the duties specifically set forth in Iowa Code chapter 34A and this chapter.

“Emergency call”   means a telephone request or text message request for service which requires immediate action to prevent loss of life, reduce bodily injury, prevent or reduce loss of property and respond to other emergency situations determined by local policy.

“Enhanced 911 (E911)”   means the general term referring to emergency telephone systems with specific electronically controlled features, such as ALI, ANI, and selective routing.

“Enhanced 911 (E911) operating authority”   means the public entity, which operates an E911 telephone system for the public benefit, within a defined enhanced 911 service area.

“Enhanced 911 (E911) service area”   means the geographic area to be served, or currently served under an enhanced 911 service plan, provided that any enhanced 911 service area shall at a minimum encompass one entire county. The enhanced 911 service area may encompass more than one county and need not be restricted to county boundaries. This definition applies only to wire-line enhanced 911 service.

“Enhanced 911 (E911) service plan (wire-line)”   means a plan, produced by a joint E911 service board, which includes the information required by Iowa Code subsection 34A.2(7).

“Enhanced 911 service surcharge”   means a charge set by the joint E911 service board, approved by local referendum, and assessed on each access line which physically terminates within the E911 service area.

“Enhanced wireless 911 service area”   means the geographic area to be served, or currently served, by a PSAP under an enhanced wireless 911 service plan.

“Enhanced wireless 911 service, phase I”   means an emergency wireless telephone system with specific electronically controlled features such as ANI, specific indication of wireless communications tower site location, selective routing by geographic location of the tower site.

“Enhanced wireless 911 service, phase II”   means an emergency wireless telephone system with specific electronically controlled features such as ANI and ALI and selective routing by geographic location of the 911 caller.

“Exchange”   means a defined geographic area served by one or more central offices in which the telephone company furnishes services.

“Implementation”   means the activity between formal approval of an E911 service plan and a given system design, and commencement of operations.

“Joint E911 service board”   means those entities created under the provisions of Iowa Code section 34A.3, which include the legal entities created pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 28E referenced in Iowa Code subsection 34A.3(3).

“Local exchange carrier”   means the same as defined in Iowa Code section 476.96.

“911 call”   means any telephone call that is made by dialing the digits 911.

“911 system”   means a telephone system that automatically connects a caller, dialing the digits 911, to a PSAP.

“Nonrecurring costs”   means one-time charges incurred by a joint E911 service board or operating authority including, but not limited to, expenditures for E911 service plan preparation, capital outlay, communications equipment to receive and dispatch emergency calls, installation, and initial license to use subscriber names, addresses and telephone information.

“One-button transfer”   means another term for a (fixed) transfer which allows the call attendant to transfer an incoming call by pressing a single button. For example, one button would transfer voice and data to a fire agency, and another button would be used for police, also known as “selective transfer.”

“Political subdivision”   means a geographic or territorial division of the state that would have the following characteristics: defined geographic area, responsibilities for certain functions of local government, public elections and public officers, and taxing power. Excluded from this definition are departments and divisions of state government and agencies of the federal government.

“Prepaid wireless telecommunications service”   means a wireless communications service that provides the right to utilize mobile wireless service as well as other nontelecommunications services, including the download of digital products delivered electronically, content and ancillary services, which must be paid for in advance, and that is sold in predetermined units or dollars of which the amount declines with use in a known amount.

“Provider”   means a person, company or other business that provides, or offers to provide, 911 equipment, installation, maintenance, or access services.

“Public or private safety agency”   means a unit of state or local government, a special purpose district, or a private firm, which provides or has the authority to provide firefighting, police, ambulance, emergency medical services or hazardous materials response.

“Public safety answering point (PSAP)”   means a 24-hour, state, local, or contracted communications facility, which has been designated by the local service board to receive 911 service calls and dispatch emergency response services in accordance with the E911 service plan.

“Public switched telephone network”   means a complex of diversified channels and equipment that automatically routes communications between the calling person and called person or data equipment.

“Recurring costs”   means repetitive charges incurred by a joint E911 service board or operating authority including, but not limited to, personnel time directly associated with database management and personnel time directly associated with addressing, lease of access lines, lease of equipment, network access fees, communications equipment to receive and dispatch emergency calls, and applicable maintenance costs.

“Selective routing (SR)”   means an enhanced 911 system feature that enables all 911 calls originating from within a defined geographical region to be answered at a predesignated PSAP.

“Subscriber”   means any person, firm, association, corporation, agencies of federal, state and local government, or other legal entity responsible by law for payment for communication service from the telephone utility.

“Tariff”   means a document filed by a telephone company with the state telephone utility regulatory commission which lists the communication services offered by the company and gives a schedule for rates and charges.

“Telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD)”   means any type of instrument, such as a typewriter keyboard connected to the caller’s telephone and involving special equipment at the PSAP which allows an emergency call to be made without speaking, also known as a TTY.

“Telematics”   means a vehicle-based mobile data application which can automatically call for assistance if the vehicle is in an accident.

“Trunk”   means a circuit used for connecting a subscriber to the public switched telephone network.

“Voice over internet protocol”   means a technology used to transmit voice conversations over a data network such as a computer network or internet.

“Wireless communications service”   means commercial mobile radio service. “Wireless communications service” includes any wireless two-way communications used in cellular telephone service, personal communications service, or the functional or competitive equivalent of a radio-telephone communications line used in cellular telephone service, a personal communications service, or a network access line. “Wireless communications service” does not include a service whose customers do not have access to 911 or 911-like service, a communications channel utilized only for data transmission, or a private telecommunications system.

“Wireless communications service provider”   means a company that offers wireless communications service to users of wireless devices including but not limited to cellular, personal communications services, mobile satellite services, and enhanced specialized mobile radio.

“Wireless communications surcharge”   means a surcharge of up to 65 cents imposed on each wireless communications service number provided in this state and collected as part of a wireless communications service provider’s monthly billing to a subscriber.

“Wireless E911 phase 1”   means a 911 call made from a wireless device in which the wireless service provider delivers the call-back number and the address of the tower that received the call to the appropriate public safety answering point.

“Wireless E911 phase 2”   means a 911 call made from a wireless device in which the wireless service provider delivers the call-back number and the latitude and longitude coordinates of the wireless device to the appropriate public safety answering point.

“Wire-line E911 service surcharge”   means a charge assessed on each wire-line access line which physically terminates within the E911 service area in accordance with Iowa Code section 34A.7.

[ ARC 8314B , IAB 11/18/09, effective 12/23/09;    ARC 0602C , IAB 2/20/13, effective 3/27/13;    ARC 1538C , IAB 7/9/14, effective 8/13/14;    ARC 2270C , IAB 11/25/15, effective 12/30/15;    ARC 2741C , IAB 10/12/16, effective 9/14/16;    ARC 2835C , IAB 12/7/16, effective 1/11/17]